• Says Nigerians need pay-rise, not politicians

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has objected to the proposal by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase salaries of Nigeria’s political office holders, describing the move as an all-out affront to the people and an indication that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government is totally disconnected from ordinary Nigerians struggling to survive the current hardship.

The proposed review by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) would see the President, Vice President, governors, and other top officials receive substantial pay increases.

The leadership of the National Assembly has equally mulled a substantially upward salary review for the over 4,000 legislative aides, all at a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with the effects of inflation, rising fuel costs, and an inadequate minimum wage.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, noted that while the RMAFC has the constitutional mandate to review salaries of political office holders, the timing of the upward review underlines the insensitivity of the current administration and betrays the realities of the day.

The ADC said: “This government is disconnected from the reality of Nigerian people.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) strongly condemns the plan by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase the salaries of political office holders, including the President, Vice President, Senate President, governors, and other top officials.

“We are aware of the Commission’s constitutional mandate to periodically review relevant emoluments of political office holders in the country. However, proposing such a review at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with soaring food inflation, high cost of fuel, inadequate and largely unpaid minimum wage would indicate a total disregard for the people.”

The party alleged that the increment proposed by the RMAFC has indeed been effected through opaque and bogus allowances.

It pointed out that “while the Chairman of RMAFC attempts to justify the proposed increases by describing the current pay structure of political office holders as ‘inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated,’ the ADC wishes to draw the public’s attention to the fact that these salaries are already supplemented with sundry bogus and opaque allowances, perks, and other discretionary funds, which together far exceed what ordinary Nigerians earn. How else are the political office holders able to support their lifestyle of luxury and opulence if indeed these ‘outdated’ salaries mean anything to them?

“For perspective, our national minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month—a figure that has been largely eroded by the APC’s inflation, even where it has been paid. Yet, unlike public office holders, most Nigerians do not receive additional allowances or emoluments to cushion the effects of the rising costs of living. This is why this proposed plan to increase the salaries of public office holders is not only tone-deaf, it is an all-out affront to the Nigerian people. It signals that the government is clearly disconnected from the struggles of ordinary citizens.
“In light of these developments, the ADC demands that this absurd plan be suspended immediately. No such increase should be implemented while ordinary citizens are grappling with extreme financial hardship.

“Government should focus on improving the lives of the people rather than improving the salaries of the President and other political office holders who already live in obscene indulgence.

“Government has no moral right to demand sacrifice from ordinary citizens while they focus on making life easier for themselves.

“Political office holders cannot be insulated from economic hardships while the everyday Nigerian suffers.

“As a party, we strongly believe that rather than further enriching political elites, all government policies at this time should prioritise raising the minimum wage to a living standard, ensuring timely and fair salaries for our civil servants, and strengthening our social welfare programs to reach the most vulnerable Nigerians,”